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Original poster

11 year old in surgery, been over 3 hours

37 replies

elliejjtiny · 02/04/2025 13:55

Ds4 is 11 and is currently in theatre. He went down at 10:30 and I thought it would be 3 hours before he came out of recovery but the surgeon said there would be 2 of them doing it so it should be quicker.

I'm getting worried now.

Also I'm desperate for a drink but not allowed to leave the ward. We are in the day surgery ward so they don't have a parent room where I can get a drink here. I would have brought drinks with me but we were meant to be on the surgical ward where they have drinks for parents so I decided not to, to save space.

OP posts:
akkakk · 02/04/2025 13:56

sorry to hear that - there are lots of very innocuous reasons why surgery can take longer - it can be as simple as kit not being ready once the patient is in theatre - hope all is resolved very soon...

Moonshinerso · 02/04/2025 13:57

Hope it goes well and you hear soon

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 02/04/2025 13:59

There was probably a simple delay in theatres.
I hope you get news soon.

healthybychristmas · 02/04/2025 13:59

That's really tough on you and unfair if you can't leave the room. Why is that? I hope he makes a really good recovery.

FedUpandEatingChocolate · 02/04/2025 13:59

Oh this is a horrible position to be in, I'm sorry.

Every time my daughter has had an operation/procedure, it's always taken longer than expected. Almost always because the time taken in the margins of surgery, in recovery etc are longer than anticipated.

Can you ask one of the HCAs for a drink etc?

Zebracat · 02/04/2025 13:59

Please ask an Hca for a drink of water. You need to be fit for your child.

TeaRoseTallulah · 02/04/2025 14:01

Zebracat · 02/04/2025 13:59

Please ask an Hca for a drink of water. You need to be fit for your child.

Absolutely ask for water . Hope he's back on the ward soon, I expect it's something minor that's delayed things,it usually is.

BobbyBiscuits · 02/04/2025 14:02

Don't worry. I'm sure it's fine. Some people take longer to operate on or come round.
What do the nurses say in the way of an update?

littlebilliie · 02/04/2025 14:03

There is often a queue and some cases get bumped due to urgency

northerneast · 02/04/2025 14:03

Why are you not allowed to leave? That’s seems a bit ridiculous when you have no access to water

Toddlerteaplease · 02/04/2025 14:03

Tell The staff you are going for a drink and ask them to phone you if there is any news.

supercalifragilistic123 · 02/04/2025 14:08

I'm a theatre nurse, there are lots of reasons why things can take a little bit longer, and in my experience surgeons are actually really bad at estimating times! They are only there for the actual procedure but not for the putting to sleep or waking up afterwards which can take some time for some patients.

Plus your son has to begin to wake up and be in a safe state in recovery before you'll be able to see him.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry. No news is good news.

1AnotherOne · 02/04/2025 14:13

Agree with the above. Also a theatre nurse and surgeons vastly underestimate their operating times in my opinion. I have a surgeon who takes 2 hours for a routine procedure every time but he will always say at the brief that it takes just over an hour, then gives me an awkward look.

lots of other reasons for delays too, he’s probably having a lovely snooze and very comfortable in recovery. Hope all has gone well.

Cornettoninja · 02/04/2025 14:17

he will always say at the brief that it takes just over an hour, then gives me an awkward look.

😂

@elliejjtiny, you must be fretting, it’s awful when there’s nothing you can do. Absolutely talk to the staff about getting a drink/snack. They don’t want you keeling over on the ward - I’m not sure what their reasoning is that you can’t leave either.

pushchairprincess · 02/04/2025 14:31

They can be put on the recovery ward after the op, then back onto the ward - they need to warm them up.

NewMe2024 · 02/04/2025 14:33

Ask for some water and try not to worry - lots of innocuous things could have led to the underestimation / miscommunication of the time needed.

glittereyelash · 02/04/2025 14:35

My brother does security in a hospital. He told me that sometimes people are in recovery after a surgery for a lot longer than expected because they let patients wake up naturally rather than trying to wake them because they can get very distressed/aggressive. My dad had surgery and we expected to hear back after 3 hours. It was 8 hours waiting in total with no update absolute torture! I hope you hear back soon and your son recovers well x

QuickPeachPoet · 02/04/2025 14:36

OP definitely go and get some water. You are no use to your son collapsed on the floor.
If there is any news you will be informed. And it takes minutes to get water, you will not miss anything.
Sending best wishes for a speedy recovery for the young lad.

TeaRoseTallulah · 02/04/2025 14:38

Yes, tell the nurses you're going to get a sandwich and a drink and to ring you of necessary. You need to keep fed and watered as it'll likely be a long night if he's staying in.

Motherofdragons24 · 02/04/2025 14:39

supercalifragilistic123 · 02/04/2025 14:08

I'm a theatre nurse, there are lots of reasons why things can take a little bit longer, and in my experience surgeons are actually really bad at estimating times! They are only there for the actual procedure but not for the putting to sleep or waking up afterwards which can take some time for some patients.

Plus your son has to begin to wake up and be in a safe state in recovery before you'll be able to see him.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry. No news is good news.

Yes absolutely this. The surgeon saying it will take 3ish hours doesn’t really mean anything. It can take a good 30minutes++ to get to the anesthetic room, talk your son through what they are going to do, get IV access, put to sleep, intubate and then move to the operating room etc. then after the op he will be woken up, extubated which can take a bit longer for some people to. Then taken to recovery and they will keep an eye for up to an hour before moving him to the ward. Ask for an update but I wouldn’t worry. Hope he makes a speedy recovery!

user593 · 02/04/2025 14:39

I agree with the above poster, no news is probably good news. My 6 month old had an 8 hour operation last year and I this is what I kept telling myself during the excruciating wait! All was fine in the end 💕

Starlight1984 · 02/04/2025 14:40

Agree with everyone above. My mum had major surgery which should have been 6-8 hours and was in for 14 in total. Was out of my mind with worry. Turned out that there was a delay going in due to an emergency and then waiting for her to wake up which can take hours apparently.

If you haven't heard anything it will be fine. Go and get a drink and something to eat.

Original poster
elliejjtiny · 02/04/2025 15:20

Thank you. Nurses said I could go if I was really quick so I dashed down to the cafe, stocked up on drinks and snacks and dashed back. Met one of the surgeons on the way back who said operation had been really difficult and high chance of infection and complications and having to do the whole thing again. But they have finished and he is sleeping in recovery.

The reasoning why they don't let parents have drinks is that the ward is a day surgery ward and is normally for short operations with a 6-8 hour stay. Parents are meant to eat and drink while their child is in surgery. Although in ds's case they told me I had to come back in 40 minutes after he went down because they were expecting him to be moved to a different ward mid surgery and they wanted me to be available to move his bag from the original ward to the new one so they can get another child in asap. the hospital is huge so I just had time to grab a quick drink at 10:30, swig it down and dash back. As I'd been starving in sympathy since the night before I was thirsty again very quickly. And we are still waiting for a bed on the surgical ward.

OP posts:
Original poster
elliejjtiny · 02/04/2025 15:22

The nurse has just come in and said that he is ready to come back to the ward but there aren't enough free nurses to take me to get him so the recovery staff are bringing him up.

OP posts:
BlondeMummyto1 · 02/04/2025 15:22

Hope he recovers well.

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